Builth Wells

Site Biodiversity Action Plan

Prepared: 2011 Updated: 2013

Site Information- Builth Wells

Site Name and Builth Wells Quarry, Powys Location (incl. Grid SO 050 520 Ref.) 305084 252090 Hanson Company Hanson Aggregates- South West Region (South Wales Ops Area) BAP(s) that will be Powys Local Biodiversity Action Plan (Shackle, H. 2002) targeted Biodiversity Action Plan for Wales UKBAP Butterfly Conservation National Action Plan for Wales (Joy, J.) Habitat(s) to be Priority Habitat in UKBAP: lowland dry acid grassland developed Local Habitat: Farmland Powys upland oak wood action plan and UKBAP priority habitat Powys lowland wood pasture and parkland action plan and UKBAP priority habitat Powys ffridd and scrub action plan BAP species to be Pearl-bordered Fritillary (Boloria euphrosyne): priority species in UKBAP encouraged Butterfly Conservation National Action Plan for Pearl-bordered Fritillary Designated Natural Does not apply in Wales Area Background and A large stone quarry cut into south-facing hillside overlooking the Wye valley, 1 km site description north-east of Builth Wells. The site lies at between 140 and 330 m altitude, on Ordovician volcanic rocks of the Builth Igneous Complex. The quarry lies within the Llanelwedd Rocks SSSI, which also includes areas of un- quarried hillside around the periphery of the workings. These areas support a mosaic of dry acidic (and occasionally mildly calcicolous) grassland, with associated rock outcrops, interspersed with extensive stands of bracken, patchy scrub and woodland, with some small flush sites. More level areas of grassland in the north of the site comprise agriculturally improved grassland, grazed by cattle and sheep, on areas permitted for future quarrying. National SSSI- Llanelwedd Rocks – Ref: 32WRH Designations (SSSI, SSSI- River Wye (Upper Wye) / Afon Gwy (Gwy Uchaf) SAC, SPAs, Ref:32WUQ RAMSARs and NPs) SAC - River Wye / Afon Gwy (Wales) Ref: UK0012642 within 500m Resource £1900 for site butterfly survey by Radnorshire Wildlife Trust; Potential costs of both Requirements- new fencing and relocation of existing fence lines; Potential for comment on cost if jointly funded management projects with CCW (Section 15 agreements for positive appropriate management of SSSIs) and Radnorshire Wildlife Trust; Ongoing annual vegetation management costs to be budgeted under restoration; Annual monitoring costs? Contribution to Improve habitat for Pearl-bordered Fritillary & Small pearl-bordered Fritillary. biodiversity Only site for Grayling in Radnorshire Broad butterfly interest Maintain & increase extent of dry acid grassland Partners and Local Countryside Council for Wales initiatives · Powys County Council · Radnorshire Wildlife Trust · Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust (Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund Pearl-bordered Fritillary project) Other documents Date of IDO consent: 09/09/46 supporting the site · Issue of new conditions: 12/10/93, first periodic review due Oct 2008 BAP · 5 year review of quarry working and restoration scheme imminent autumn 06 · CCW Lowland Grassland Survey, 1995 · Pearl-bordered Fritillary Monitoring at Llanelwedd Rocks (Powys): A Report for the Countryside Council for Wales, 2000 · Amphibian Survey of pond, David Clemence Ecology, May 2006 · SSSI Citation Sheet Site Layout

Action Plan

Item Objective Biodiversity Targets Tasks Assessing Responsible Timescale No. Feature Indicator Person (Completion) 1 Maintain Mildly Open up glades within Cut swathes into woodland Continuing CCW (for 5 year target (SW and calcicolous encroaching woodland and & bramble scrub on virgin presence of key Site hillside) increase grassland scrub to improve and hillside or historic waste species for U1/U4 Management area of (CG10) and increase small patches of tips off the track at grassland Statement) species rich dry fragmented CG10/ U1/U4 southern end of western over wider area of Unit Manager grassland acid grassland grassland. 30% grassland field. western Forestry and (U1/U4) habitat within 5 years in Obtain Site Management field: Landscape western field. Statement for Llanelwedd Festuca ovina, Manager Above to be carried out in Rocks SSSI (applies to Agrostis Monitoring: accordance with CCWs Site whole site and all BAP capillaris, Aira Ecological Management Statement items) praecox, Consultants? (applies to whole site and all Vulpia bromoides, BAP items) Rumex acetosella, Hieracium pilosella, Thymus praecox, Sedum anglicum, Viola riviniana, in short- grazed (rabbit) open sward Annual Monitoring Programme.. 2 Maintain Newts 30% of pond to remain as Fill with clean, inert Continued Unit Manager 2007 smaller (palmate and open water habitat following material to reduce depth presence of area of smooth only) restoration to woodland of (discourage public amphibians and shallow, Dragonflies remainder, within 3 years, swimming & remove H & S open water open water Possible subject to satisfying health risk). Should be carried out habitat (30% of alternative and safety requirements. in autumn/winter when original water amphibians have left the area). Will require supply for open water area. repeat grazing stock survey in spring in following West Field restoration. 3 Improve U1 grassland, Re-colonisation of West New fence erected 04-05. Habitat condition Dr Simon 5 year target grassland south-facing Field by pearl-bordered Animals in field by mid- assessments with Spencer, tel: habitat for bracken fritillary (last sighting in June but no grazing from abundance scales 01691 Pearlborder covered western field 12/05/00). Dec until end of May; cattle for violets 648339 ed slopes, Possible re-introduction site initially and then sheep. and vernal flowers Radnorshire Fritillary good in future. Some late winter trampling recorded Wildlife Trust population of Survey of habitat condition beneficial but not in March annually in Consultancy violets and current status of general or April. conjunction with arm (larval food butterfly population on butterfly transect plants) annual basis. counts. Regular aerial photos to monitor extent of scrub. 4 Improve None at Incorporate recent western Clearance of scrub but Habitat condition Forestry and 5 year target grassland present screen bank and old quarry leaving pockets in situ, assessments with Landscape habitat for waste tip into grazing targeting existing areas of abundance scales Manager & Pearlborder compartment of West Field open grassland and for violets Unit ed within 5 years. bracken mosaics over next and vernal flowers Manager and 2-3 years. Aim to have recorded Dr Simon small grazing in place within 5 annually in Spencer & pearlborder years. Monitor colonisation conjunction with RWT ed and add wildflower seed to butterfly transect fritillary open patches of western counts. bund. Regular aerial photos to monitor extent of scrub.